Region in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Can you drink tap water in Lake Toba?
Can you drink the tap water in Lake Toba?
Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or refill-station water; do not drink lake water, and brush teeth with bottled water.
Key facts
- In Lake Toba: Drink bottled or refill-station water; do not drink lake water, and brush teeth with bottled water.
- Across Indonesia: Tap water isn't drinkable anywhere; use bottled water or refill stations, common in Bali. Stomach trouble ('Bali belly') is common.
- Safely managed drinking water: 30% of people in Indonesia (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across Indonesia
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Bali | No, drink bottled |
| Ubud | No, drink bottled |
| Canggu | No, drink bottled |
| Jakarta | No, drink bottled |
| Seminyak | No, drink bottled |
| Uluwatu | No, drink bottled |
| Yogyakarta | No, drink bottled |
| Gili Islands | No, drink bottled |
| Nusa Penida | No, drink bottled |
| Kuta | No, drink bottled |
| Lombok | No, drink bottled |
| Labuan Bajo | No, drink bottled |
| Nusa Dua | No, drink bottled |
| Sanur | No, drink bottled |
| Raja Ampat | No, drink bottled |
| Mount Bromo | No, drink bottled |
| Bandung | No, drink bottled |
| Nusa Lembongan | No, drink bottled |
| Lake Toba | No, drink bottled |
| Kuta Lombok | No, drink bottled |
| Amed | No, drink bottled |
| Batam | No, drink bottled |
| Bintan | No, drink bottled |
| Malang | No, drink bottled |
| Bukit Lawang | No, drink bottled |
| Medan | No, drink bottled |
| Surabaya | No, drink bottled |
| Manado | No, drink bottled |
| Tana Toraja | No, drink bottled |
| Jimbaran | No, drink bottled |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Lake Toba?
Don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled or refill-station water; do not drink lake water, and brush teeth with bottled water.
Can you drink tap water in Indonesia?
Tap water isn't drinkable anywhere; use bottled water or refill stations, common in Bali. Stomach trouble ('Bali belly') is common.
More about Lake Toba
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- InJourney Airports (Indonesian airports)
- Siloam Hospitals
Verdicts reflect official utility statements and what locals actually do. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.